By Ann Jamieson An icon of Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) combines famed architecture and art with an atmosphere of intense spirituality. Built by Emperor Justinian as a cathedral, the Hagia Sophia was converted into an imperial mosque by the Ottoman Empire in 1453, and in 1935 under Mustafa Attaturk’s orders became a museum. The UNESCO World Heritage site is one … [Read more...] about Hagia Sophia, Icon of Istanbul
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Sailing the Turquoise Coast
By Stephanie Wolden ITWPA Member Waking up slowly with the sunrise on the deck of a small gulet anchored in a quiet, ancient bay of the Aegean Sea. “Günaydın,” says a smiling sun-scorched sailor as he hands me a glass of Turkish tea. Its precisely brewed golden-auburn hue shimmers in the early morning light. A few others begin to stir as someone at the stern jumps into the … [Read more...] about Sailing the Turquoise Coast